Chapter 10 Certification and Grants | Next Chapter | Return to Table of Contents
All public libraries in Utah are evaluated according to a set of legal requirements and professional practices known as Public Library Certification Standards. The standards are established by the State Library to provide uniformity in assessing the quality of service provided by libraries in different communities and to help local libraries measure their own performance. Library boards should understand the purpose and benefits of the standards and know that many grant opportunities are tied to certification status.
What are Certification Standards?
Once a library is established by either a city or county jurisdiction, it is expected to meet a certain set of guidelines, called certification standards, established by the Utah State Library. Standards describe the minimally acceptable levels of performance in crucial areas of library operations, such as governance, funding, personnel, collections, public access, technology,and more. Standards help ensure conformance to professionally accepted practices and establish benchmarks for libraries to improve service over time.
Certification Benefits
Only certified public libraries are eligible for Community Library Enhancement Funds (CLEF), an annual allocation from the Utah State Legislature. Only certified public libraries may apply for federal grants, such as LSTA and E-Rate discounts. Certified public libraries receive the full range of support services from the State Library and personnel from certified libraries are given preference in training and continuing education programs. A "library" that is not established by a political jurisdiction and thus, cannot meet many of the library standards, is classed as a Volunteer Library.
CLEF Grants
Only certified public libraries are eligible for a state grant from monies appropriated annually by the Utah State Legislature. These direct grants are designed to motivate public libraries to meet or exceed library standards. They are also intented to help augment the limited resources of local government. Local governments, however, may not reduce library budgets because of the CLEF Grant money. Libraries are required to submit an annual expenditure report to the State Library explaining how the state funding has made a positive difference in library service to the local community.